Studying the Psalms has invited us to examine many elements of our testimonies and relationships. Among them, relevant to family life are forgiveness and repentance.
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” also teaches these same things as important to successful homes, as ones that are “established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love,…”
The following six psalms, in particular, can be a great source for understanding how to open our hearts to what we have done wrong and navigate our way through family life and back to the Lord.
1. Psalm 32 teaches us the critical step of acknowledging and confessing when we have sinned. “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, … I will confess…”
2. Psalm 40 is an example of how, through repentance we can be lifted from “a horrible pit” of sin and renewed.
3. Psalm 103 assures us that when God forgives us, it’s done—finished. Our transgressions have been removed “far, far away.” And, as Jesus tells us, we are to do the same for others in return (Mark 11:25).
4. Psalm 25 is instructive as a reminder, that as big and overwhelming as our mistakes can feel, through Jesus we can be redeemed. “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.”
5. Psalm 51 reminds us that we need to bring a broken heart and contrite spirit to the process of repentance. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
6. Psalm 130 is comforting in its reminder of God’s love for us, even though we are all sinners. But it also makes clear that we need to wait “for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning” in our worship of the Father and Son.
“The spirit must be freed from tethers so strong and feelings never put to rest, so that the lift of life may give buoyancy to the soul. In many families, there are hurt feelings and a reluctance to forgive. It doesn’t really matter what the issue was. It cannot and should not be left to injure. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.”
President Thomas S. Monson | Hidden Wedges
Art: Jen Norton